According to A Harvard Business Review blog post “Although women now attend college at a higher rate than men, and have for the most part closed the gap in achieving advanced and professional degrees, women are not occupying the real power positions in corporations, academia, or the professions in anywhere near the same proportions as men…The fact of the under representation of women at the top begs the question of why. One part of the answer is women’s reluctance to embrace power.”
Many young women, just like the ones who are part of our NEXT community, are driven, bright, and eager to develop themselves as they advance in their careers. Yet, they too can be intimidated as they attain positions of power or authority.
Why? In the past they have relied on hard work and a great personality to get what they have wanted. Moving beyond that comfort zone into a role where a premium is placed on strategic relationship building, self promotion, and confidence can be uncomfortable – but not impossible. Ask yourself these questions as you work to develop yourself and your career:
• What are the times that you felt the most powerful at work? What about the most confident?
• What can you do to re-create those moments – was it a certain suit that you wore or were you
extra prepared for a meeting that involved senior executives?
• What is one thing that you can do today that will take you out of your comfort zone and into the “power zone”?
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